# Van Straelen-class minesweeper

The Van Straelen class was a ship class of sixteen minesweepers that were built in the Netherlands for the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNN). They were taken into service of the RNN between 1960 and 1962 and served until 1 March 1983.

## Design and construction

The ships were designed in the Netherlands and build between 1958 and 1962 at several different Dutch shipyards. The costs of the class was split between the United States and the Netherlands. The United states paid under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP) for the construction of eight ships and the Netherlands paid for the other eight ships.
To sweep mines the ships were equipped with the W Mk 7, ME 31 to ME 33 and the AX Mk 6B or 4V. Furthermore, they could be equipped with the M Mk 6h which would give the ships a magnetic sweeping ability.

## Service history

The minesweepers were used to sweep mines in shallow and narrow inland waters.

## Ships in class

The ships were named after officers, sailors and other personnel of the Royal Netherlands Navy that distinguished themselves during the Second World War and/or the Indonesian War of Independence and were awarded posthumously either the Military Order of William or Bronze Cross for their service.
Van Straelen-class construction data :
| Ship | Pennant No. | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Fate |
| Alblas | M868 | De Noord | 26 January 1958 | 29 June 1959 | 12 March 1960 | 1983 | Sold in 1986 to the firm Holland & Zn. |
| Bussemaker | M869 | G. de Vries Lentschr Jr. | 28 August 1958 | 27 February 1960 | 19 August 1960 | 1983 | Sold in 1986 to Delft Geophysical |
| Lacomblé | M870 | Arnhemse Scheepsbouw Maatschappij | 27 April 1959 | 6 February 1960 | 22 August 1960 | 1983 | Loaned to ZKK Den Helder in 1984 |
| Van Hamel | M871 | G. de Vries Lentschr Jr. | 27 April 1959 | 28 May 1960 | 14 November 1960 | 1983 | Sold to Peru in 1984 as Acarillo |
| Van Straelen | M872 | Arnhemse Scheepsbouw Maatschappij | 28 November 1958 | 17 May 1960 | 20 December 1960 | 1983 | Sold in 1986 to Delft Geophysical as Delft Fortuna |
| Van Moppes | M873 | De Noord | 6 April 1959 | 10 May 1960 | 19 December 1960 | 1983 | Loaned to ZKK Hellevoetsluis in 1985 |
| Chömpff | M874 | De Noord | 29 June 1959 | 10 May 1960 | 19 December 1960 | 1983 | Sold in 1988 in Zaandam |
| Van Well Groeneveld | M875 | Arnhemse Scheepsbouw Maatschappij | 29 December 1959 | 1 October 1960 | 28 April 1961 | 1983 | Sold in 1986 to Delft Geophysical as Delft Minerva |
| Schuiling | M876 | G. de Vries Lentschr Jr. | 26 June 1959 | 30 June 1960 | 5 April 1961 | 1983 | Loaned to ZKK Maassluis in 1986 |
| Van Versendaal | M877 | De Noord | 27 March 1961 | 4 December 1961 | 11 April 1962 | 1983 | In 1984 to Zeekadetkorps |
| Van der Wel | M878 | G. de Vries Lentschr Jr. | 30 May 1960 | 3 May1961 | 6 October 1961 | 1983 | Sold to Peru in 1984 as Melo |
| Van 't Hoff | M879 | De Noord | 8 June 1960 | 15 March 1961 | 6 October 1961 | 1983 | Sold in 1986 to Delft Geophysical |
| Mahu | M880 | De Noord | 18 June 1960 | 15 March 1961 | 6 October 1961 | 1983 | |
| Staverman | M881 | G. de Vries Lentschr Jr. | 8 July 1960 | 30 August 1961 | 21 February 1962 | 1983 | Sold in 1986 to the firm Holland & Zn. |
| Houtepen | M882 | Arnhemse Scheepsbouw Maatschappij | 19 September 1960 | 26 August 1961 | 21 March 1962 | 1983 | Sold in 1986 to Delft Geophysical |
| Zomer | M883 | Arnhemse Scheepsbouw Maatschappij | 16 May 1960 | 4 March 1961 | 6 October 1961 | 1983 | Sold for scrap in 1987 to the firm Westmetaal |